Box-car-loading apparatus.



I wl:

C. BERGHOEFER, DEGD. E. o. BERGHOEFEE, BxEoUToR. BOX GAB. LOADING APPARATUS.

APPLIUATION FILED MAY 5, 191s.

Patented Mar. 24, 1914 6 SHEETS-SHEET 1. Q

n. BERGHOBFER, DEM. E. C: BERGHOFEE, EXEUUTOR.

BOX GAR LOADING APPARATUS.

APPLIUATIQN FILED MAY5, 19131 1,090,965. Y Patented Ma1.24, 191% 6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

C'. BERGOEFBR E. 0. BERGHOBPEE, EXEOUTOR. BOX GAB. LOADING APPARATUS.

, DEGD.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 5, 1913.

Patented Mar. 24, 1914;

SHEETS-SHEET 3.

o. BERGHOEPER, DEGD. E. 0. BEEGHOEPER, EXEUTOR.

BOX GAR LOADING APPARATUS. APPLIUATION FILED MAY 5, i913.

Patented Mar. 24, 1914;

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

G. BERGrHOEPER,l DEGD. n. o. lanenpnrm, Enom-on.

v BOX UAB. LOADING APPARATUS. I

A1 1 1.I u.m1o1sr FILED MAY s. 1913. v

f f f Patented Mar-24, 1914.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

i portable CHARLES BERGHOEFEB, OF MILWAUKEE,

WISCONSIN; EDWARD C.` BERGHOEFER EXECUTOR OF SAID CHARLES BERG-HOEFER, DECEASED.

BOX-CAR-LOADING- APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Mal-o 24h 19u14.

Applicat'ion led 'May 5, 1913. Serial No. 765,558.

T o all whom it may concern Be it known that l, Cinuuuais BnRGnonrnn, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Milwaukee,l in the county of l\"lilwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Box- Gar-lioading Apparatus; 'and l. do' hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

The primary object of'my invention is to provide a simple, economical and eliicient box-car loading apparatus, the apparatus being preferablyr mounted upon a truck-supported platform and comprises a `conveyer in the form of an endless bucketcarrying belt that is mounted upon a flexible track, which track is supported by a sectional bridge capable of horizontal swing, whereby the apparatus may bev introduced through the door of a standard box-car and adjusted at the will of the operator to selectively deliver the load at the blind ends of the car and intermediate po-ints throughout its length.

The apparatus as a whole is provided with suitable driving gear connections, power being applied thereto from motors mounted upon the platform, all of which gear mechanism is under control of an operator at this point. Thus the conveyer apparatus can be straightened out with relation to the platform` or horizontally shifted from right to left at the will of the operator, while, at the( same time, the position of the truck supporting the platform can be shifted upon suitable rails to positions select-ed longitudinally of the road-bed. It it also apparent that l may provide suitable rails whereby the platform, together with the apparatus, may be caused to travel at a right-angle to the track,

shown, which track in this instance is arranged parallel to a track 'upon which the cars to be loaded 'are switched.

Nith the above objects in view the invention consists in certain peculiarities of construction and combinationy of parts as hereinafter set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings and subsequently claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 represents a plan view of a car-loading apparatus embodying the features my invention, the same being shown adjusted tothe body of a car through its door in such position that the load will be delivered at one end of said car body, a

fragment of the car body being shown in sect-ion; Fig. 2, a longitudinal vertical section of the loading apparatus, the sectionl being indicated by line 2-2 of Figs. 1 and 3, showing the several hinge-connected bridge members straightened out with parts broken away and positioned to enter the carbody through the door thereof, the conveyer chain and buckets being removed for clearness of illustration; Fig. 3, a cross-section of the apparatus at its platform end, the section being indicated byline 3-3 of Fig'. '2; Fig. 4, a cross-section through the swingmg .bridge elements lof t-he apparatus, the section being indicated by line 1 -4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5, a sectional plan view of the trucksupported platform driving gear, the section being indicated by line 5-5 of Fig. 2; Fig. 6, a detailed sectional elevation of the end members of the bridge showing a portion of the endless chain andthe buckets attached thereto, together with the end sheave support for the same; Fig. 7, a detailed sectional plan view of a portion of the platform floor, illustrating the means for supporting a flexible track at the platform end of said apparatus; Fig. 8, an inverted de.- tailed plan sectional view, showing the hinge Joint between a pair of the bridge sections, together with the mechanism for swinging the sections; Fig. 9, a detailed plan view of one form of conveye'r chain, together with its buckets and a portion of the flexible track for said buckets, the said view illustrating thetrack flexed into a curve; Figs. and 11detailed plan sectional views of the platform truck connections, the sections being indicated by lines 10-10 and 1.1-11 respectively of Fig. 3; Fig. .12, a detailed crosssection of a shiftable roller guide mechanism forthe flexible track, the section being indicated by line 12-#12 of Fig. 4; Fig. 13, a plan view of my preferred form of combination chain and bucket conveyer, the saine y being mounted uponV sections of the flexible track, which sections are shown flexed in a curve; Fig. 14, an elevation of the same partly in section as indicated by line 111-14 of Fig. 13, and Fig. 15 represents a sectional elevation of an adjustable sheave-shaft box. .Referring by characters to the drawings, 1 represents a superstructure provided with blocks 2. into which blocks are slidablylitted tongues 3 that extend from journal-boxes 4. Monntedin the journal-boxes 4 are truck axles 5 carrying flanged wheels 6, which wheels are supported upon track-rails 7 that are suitably adjusted to a road-bed, the road-bed .being in this instance extended at a right-angle to the road-bed of a box-car A. The superstructln'e 1 carries upper and lower floors 8, 8, respectively, which floors, together with said superstructure constitute a shiftable platform, the shift being accomplished by moving said platform back and forth upon its track-rails 7. Power for accomplishing movement of the platform'is obtained from a motor B, which motor, as shown, is bolted to the bottom face of the floor 8. The motor is in gear connection with a power-shaft 10, which power-shaft, as shown, is provided with a lever-controlled clutch mechanism 11. The loose member of this clutch mechanism is in sprocket-gear connection with a counter-shaft 12, which counter-shaft in turn, is in sprocket-gear connection with -a corresponding parallel counter-shaft 12. Each of these countershafts 12 and 12 carry worms which mesh with worm-wheels 13 that are fast upon vertical spindles 14, the same being revolubly mounted within the blocks 2. The lower ends of these spindles are in threaded union with projecting ears 14' that form part of the j ournal-boxes 4. By this gear connection between the motor when it is desired to raise orlower the platform the clutch mechanism 11 is thrown into operative position, whereby motion is imparted to 4the spindles 14 through the worm and worm-wheel driving mechanismLwhereby the journal-boxes guided in the blocks 2 may be raised or lowered, it being understood that the reverse movement desired for raising and lowering the platform may be effected by reversal of the motor, or, if desired, in some instances, any suitable form of reversing gear may be interposed between the motor and spindles for effecting the same result.

Referring especially to Figs. 2 and 5 the power-'shaft l0 carries a worm 15 which -meshes witha worm-wheel 15', the same being loosely mounted upon a transverse shaft 16 that is ournaled in suitable bearings with which thesuperstructure is provided. The worm-wheel 15 is adapted to be coupled to the shaft .16 by a lever-controlled clutch mechanism 17, whereby motion maybe imparted to the said shaft at the will of the operator. The shaft 16 is also in miter-gear connection with a telescopic shaft 18, which latter shaft is journaled i'n a bracket 18 that is suspended from the shaft 16. The lower end of the shaft 18 is journaledin a corresponding bracket 18" that is loosely mounted upon the'truck axle-5, thesaid lower end of the shaft 1 8 being in miter-gear connection with the axle, as shown. By

this` gear connection to the motor it is ap.

parent that through manipulation` of the clutch mechanism 17 power may be imparted to the truck axle 8, whereby the platform is moved backward or forward, depending upon the direction of rotation of the motor, it being also obvious that this reverse movement can be effected by suitable reversing gear as a substitute for reversal of the motor.

As best shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the forward end of the lower floor-'8' is provided with a trunnion 19 uponv which is mounted a leaf 20 of! a` sectional bridge, the said hinged leaf being adapted to swing horizontally upon its trunnion. In axial alinement with the trunnion 19 and supported by the upper table 8 is a corresponding trunnion 19 which serves as a pivot-support for an upper leaf 20 of another sectional bridge series. These two leaves are rigidly connected by suitable struts 21, whereby they move together upon their respective pivots. The outer ends of the bridge leaves 20, 20', carry axially alined trunnions 22, 22, which form pivots for end leaf bridge sections 23, 23'., respectively,rthe same being connected by transverse struts 24. Hence it will be seen that the intermediate and endv leaves of the sectional bridge can beiswung horizontally within a scope of approximately 190,.o with relation to the platform by which they are supported. In order to effect swinging` of the bridge leaves either selectively or together each of the upper leaves 20', 23, are provided with circular rack-sections 25, 25', which rack-sections are secured to the lower faces of said leaves and are concentric with their respective trunnions. Depending from the upper platform floor 8v are hangers 2G which serve as bearings for one section 27 of a tumbler-shaft, the outer end section 27 of which is-mounted in hangers 26 that' depend from the bridge leaf 20. These two tumbler shaft sections are connected by a .universal joint 27 which is axially alined with the bridge leaf trunnions 19, 191v Hence the outer trunnion lshaft section 27 is capable of movement with the swinging bridge sections 20, 20', through its universal coupling. The tumbler-shaft section 27 has loosely mounted thereon a gear-wheel 25 which meshes with the'circular rack 25, while the outer end of the tumbler shaft section 27 carries a similar gear-wheel 28 Awhich meshes with the circular toothed rack 25. The hub of the gear-wheel 25 is toothed to constitute one member of a clutch mechanism 29, whereby rotation may be im parted'to said gear-wheel atl the will of the operator. By causing a coupling operationof the clutch mechanism 29 it is apparent that should the tumbler-shaft be rotated, movement'will be simultaneously imparted to the table leaf 20 and the table leaf 2.. through the gear-wheels 25 and 28, which gear-wheels mesh wlth the circular racks 25, 25', of the respective bridge leaf sections.`

buckets have links 38 Hence` said sections will be swung horizontally upon their' trunnions .together with their companion leaf sections 20, 23.

In orderto swing the end leaf bridge sections 23, 23` only, the coupling mechanism 29, in connection with the gear-wheel 25', is first disconnected and a similar coupling mechansim 29-l is thrown into clutching engagement. One member 30 of this coupling mechanism 29 is secured to a stud portion of the tumbler-shaft\27," while the opposite member is in spline connection with the latter tumbler-section. Hence when the coupling operation iseffected between the stud section of this portion of the tumbler-shaft the gear-wheel 28, which is secured to said stud section, will be rotated, whereby the swinging end bridge member can be shifted in selective position, in this opera-tion it being understood that the gear-wheel 25 remains idle. Power is applied to the tumbler-shaft from a motor C which is mounted upon the platform floor 8, the motor-shaft 31 being in chain and sprocket gear connec tion with a stud-shaft 31, which stud-shaft in turn, is in chain and sprocket gear con nection with the tumbler-shaft, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Mounted within suitable boxes with which the platform superstructure'is provided is a transverse arbor 32, which arbor carries a toothed double sheave 33. Secured to one end of the arbor is a worm-wheel 34 which meshes with a worm 35 that is fast on the motorshaft and arranged to impart drive to the arbor.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 6 of the dravings the end-struts 24 which connect the bridge leaves 23, 23', are provided 4with boxes for the support of an arbor 3G, which arbor also carries a toothed double faced idle sheave 33 that vcorresponds with the driven sheave 33 carried by the platform, the said sheaves being upon a common horizontal plane. This pair of sheaves serve as supports for an endless chain conveyer carrying a series of buckets 37. Each pair of these that are spaced from their side walls to form interstices for engagement of the sheave teeth, the said space between the bucket-walls andv links being bridged by a stud '39 which is opposed by the-teeth of the driven-sheave 33, whereby motion is imparted to the endless conveyer mechanism. The ends of the links 38 are eX-.

tended from the end walls of the buckets and are apertured. for the reception of swivel blocks 40, the ends of which swivel blocks lare in pivotal union with the chain links. The'juxtaposed pairs of these swivel-blocks are connected by vertically disposed pivotpins 41, whereby the chain and its'buckets are capable of horizontal vflexure, itbeing understood that the horizontally disposed hinge connection between the links and blocks permits iexure of the chain, whereby it is free to travel over its supporting sheaves. The upper and lower stretches of the conveyer intermediate of the sheaves are supported by flexible rails 42, 43, respectively, each of said tracks being provided,. for simplicity in construction, with rigid sections 42, 43', which sections are secured to the lower and upper end leaf members 23, 3', of the bridge,

as best shown in Figs. 1 and (i. The chain links 38 carry rollers 44, which rollers are arranged to travel upon the upper and lower flexible tracks in order to support both the loaded and empty buckets. The flexible portion of the bucketsupporting tracks is, as shown, composed of a series of connected links and the flexible end portion of the track member 42, adjacent to its platform end, is in the form of an endless loop, straight stretches of the same being guided in grooved runways of brackets 45, which brackets are secured to the upper iioor 8 of the platform. From the inner end of these brackets the flexible track is deflected outwardly in opposite directions and guided over idle sheaves 46 that are mounted upon the platform, as best-shown in Fig. 1, this defiection of the track being in approximate alinement with the driven conveyer sprocketwheel 33, whereby the rollers 44 which support the conveyer buckets may run off the track co-incident to the travel of the conveyer about the sheave. The offset portion of the flexible chain which forms the looped end is thereafter guided over large sheaves 46 which are also carried by the platform, the straight transverse stretch of the flexiw ble chain being so disposed as to permit clearance of the buckets in their upward travel over the sheave 33. As best shown in Fig. 7, the lower-flexible track-rail 43 adjacent to its platform end is simply looped over a pair of guidesheaves 47 that are mounted upon the lower' floor 8 of the platform, the said parallel stretches of this '-rail being guided in grooves of brackets 45 which extend from the adjacent platform flooring and are similar tothe brackets 45. The portions of the upper and lower flexible rails 42, 43, which are designed to be flexed in a curve, in order to conform to the vari ous positions of the bridge leaves, are 4 primarily supported by the intermediate bridge leaves 20, 20, and in order to insure the support of the tracks upon their curved portions connecting` the end .bridge leaf and platform, I provide upper and lower floating tables 48, 48.v One end of the lower table 48 is pivoted upon the trunnion 19 and the corresponding end of the upper table 48 is pivoted. upon the trunnion l19', the outer free ends of thesetables being adapted to swing in order to conform tothe position assumed by the flexible rail members. rl`he said free ends of each of these tables are supported by rollers 49 which travel ',upon transversely disposed circular track sections 50 that are carried by the bridge-leaves 20, 20', as best shown in Figs. 2 and '4 of the drawings. Each of the tables are yprovided with sets of transversely disposed grooves 51, into which are slidably fitted shoes 52,

lframe 5Gby a kingbolt 59.'

which shoes carry upwardly projecting guide-rollers 53, between which guidefrollers the iexible stretches `of the chain are adapted to tra-vel, the said tables being also provided with sets of non-shiftable guide-l rollers 54 for positioning the track sections,

the same being disposed at the opposite ends' of the series of shiftable guide-rollers 53. The flexible sections are further guided betweenl sets of rollers 54 which are supported by chairs 55 that extend from the upper andl lower bridge leaf members A23, 23', the said chairs forming terminals of the rigid portions 42, 42 of the conveyer supporting rails.

Figs. 13 and 14 illustrate my preferred form of conveyer, in which form I rovide a truck between each pair of bu iets 37.

Each of the trucks comprises a suitable skeleton frame 56 that .is provided with boxes for parallel axles 57, each of which carries a set lof flanged wheels 58 that are arranged to travel upon the flexible track. The sides of the buckets are provided with the links 38 which are similar in construction to those previously described in connection with the other form of conveyer. These Vlinks in turn have pivoted to their ends swivel-blocks 40, a corresponding pair of which swivel-blocks are hinged to the truck- Secured to spacing thimbles 60 which project from the links 38 are straps 61thespacing thinibles and straps forming pockets for engagement with the lconveyer sheaves 33, 33. In this instance the truck-frame 56 is provided with upwardly extending feet 62, which feet serve as supports for a deflector hood 63, the

edges of the same being-extended over the juxtaposed edges of adjacent buckets, Wheremanipulation of the mechanism and the end section introduced through the cardoor.

Thereafter the bridge is moved toward the car-door by its drivel mechanism and the sectional tumbler rod 27 is also put into motion, whereby the leaf members fare turned in the desired direction to be-introduced through the car-door, the same assuming a longitudlnal positlon Wlth relaforward, in which position the end leaf member is disposed at a right-angle to the bridge. The floating table will automatically assume the position shown in Fig. l,

lwhereby the curvature of the track members vis permitted, While at the same timey shortenin of the inner track through its curvature w1 lbe compensated for by movement of the chain about the sheaves at its loop in order that the desired length of the outerA curvature of said track can be obtained. Thereafter motion-is imparted to the conveyer mechanism, whereby the buckets Will be caused to travel inwardly, their Working stretch being supported upon the upper flexible t-rack'section 42. Coal or other product to be loaded into the car is discharged from a suitable hopper as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, the material Ydischarged being delivered successively to the buckets as they travel over the driven sheave 33. It follows that the contents of the' buckets is `discharged as the latter travel downwardlyA over the idle sheave 33 which is carried by -tion to the car body as thev bridge travels end the end member of the sectional bridge and the empty bucket-s are returned .to their starting positiomthe idle stretch of buckets being guided over the lower flexible track 43.

As the blind'end ofthe car isfilled to the desired height with coal. or other vmaterial the' apparatus is gradually Withdrawn and when' one end of the car is filled toits door the swinging bridge is reversed, whereby it is introduced into the opposite end of said car and the loading operation repeated. It is also apparent that while I have shown the end bridge leaf of considerable length in proportion to the intermediate leaf, that, inl practice, this l section may y be' materially shortened to facilitate manipulation andl furthermore the number of leaves may be increased or diminished in designing the aparatusjto meet its various requirements. It

is also manifest that While I have shown one' form of complete drivin gear for the'varions parts and means or controlling the same by coupling mechanisms that the driving mechanism and minor structural features may all be varied Within the lmowledge of skilled mechanics Without departing;y z

from the spirit of my invention, as, for eX- ample, in some instances, it has been found in practice that variable speed gearin connections to the'motors may be intro whereby the movements may be imparted to vthe various elements at different speed ratios. In order to compensate for lthe weight at the swinging end of the bridge, a'sshown in Fig. 2, the lower leaf member of said bridge may be provided with `supporting uced,

able engagement rollers '64, which rollers are` adapted to travel upon the floor of the car and thus relieve thev platform from undue strain, it

boing a pparentl that by vertically adjusting the platform through the spindles 14 that these rollers can be so regulated with relation to thc plane of the floor as to be effective.

As best shown in Fig. l, in order to sup-l port the flexible chain-stretches 42, 43, at the gap between the floating tables 48 and 48-, l provide a pair of fixed flanged rollers (36, which rolle-rs are adapted to engage the inner surface of the outer chain-stretches when the end bridge-leaf is swung in its extreme positions. Thus the curvature of the chains is positively maintained, while at the same time they are supported bythe roller iianges thereunder. In practice in some instances it is desired to raise the conveyer mechanism at its discharge end` in order to increase the height of the point of discharge to effect desirable loading, wherebythe coal or other article can be piled at a sufficient height under the mechanism. In order to accomplish this result, as shown in Fig. 15, the shaft which carries the double sheave is mounted upon boxes G7 which are in slidwith plates 68, the. plates being secured to the struts 24. These plates carry adjusting screws 69 which are in threaded union with the boxes, whereby the 'conveyer cha-in and sheaves may be raised at the discharge end after the apparatus has been adjusted to deliver the load at the ends of the car. Thus the point of discharge may be materially elevated whereby the buckets will clear the discharged product which may be thus piled to a considerable depth.

I claim:

1. A loading apparatus comprising a main platform, a horizontally swinging bridge carried thereby, a flexible track mounted upon the bridge, and an endless conveyer supported upon the flexible-track.

2. A loading apparatus comprising a truck-supported platform, a horizontally swinging sectional bridge carried thereby, a flexible track mounted upon ,the bridge and platform, and an endless bucket-carrying conveyer supportedupon the flexible track.

loading apparatus comprising a platform, a sectional horizontally swinging bridge carried thereby, a flexible track mounted upon the bridge and platform, a flexible endless bucket-carrying .conveyer supported upon the flexible track, and means for shifting the position of the bridge with relation to the platform.

4. A loading apparatus comprising a platform, a sectional horizontally swinging bridge ,carried thereby, a flexible track mounted upon the bridge and platform, a

flexible `amins vsupported upon nection with each oted connection bucket-carrying conveyer the flexible track, and means for'lselectively shifting the of .the bridge sections.

=5. A loading apparatus comprising a truck-supported platform, a series of bridge leaves in hinge connection with each other and the platform, theV bridge leaves being 4adapted to swing in a horizontal plane, a

drive-shaft mounted -upon the platform, an

vidlesheave mounted-upon the end leaf of the bridge,.an endless flexible conveyer carried bythe sheaves, ahorizontally flexible track mounted upon the bridge-leaves and platformA for the support of the conveyer stretches, and mechanism for shifting the position of the aforesaid series of`bridge leaves relative to said platform.

-6. 'A loading apparatus comprising a position` platform, upper and lower series of bridgeleavesin hinge connection with each other rand the platform, the corresponding upper and 'lower bridge leaves being secured together, a sheave mounted upon the platform `and a sheave mounted upon the end section ofthe bridge between its leaves, an endless bucket-carrying conveyer mounted upon the sheaves, upper and lower flexible track members carried by the bridge sections and platformg for the support oflthe working and idle stretch of the conveyer, and mechanism for shifting the position'of the aforesaid series of bridge sections relative to the platform.

7 A loading apparatus comprising a shiftable platform, upper and lower corresponding series of spaced bridge leaves, the corresponding upper and lower leaves of each bridge-leaf section being in hinge conother and having the pine tles of both series in axial alinement, means connecting the lower bridge leaves of each section, a pivbetween the first bridge section and platform, a drive sheave mounted upon the latform between the leaves of the first ridge section, an idle sheave mountedA between the upper L and leaves of the last bridge section, an endless link belt mounted upon the sheaves, buckets carried by the belt, a vertically ldisposed hinge connection' between the buckets whereby horizontal fleXure of the same 1s corresponding upper and l had, flexible supporting tracks for the bucktion to its road-bed, a horizontally swinging sectional bridge carried by the platform, a flexible track mounted upon the platform and bridge, and an endless bucketcarrying conveyer supported upon the flexible track.

9. A` loading apparatus comprising a platform, a leaf-member in hinge connection therewith, other'leaf members in hinge connection with each` other and the first mentioned leaf member, a gear connection between the leaf members whereby their position is varied with relation to the platform, a flexible track mounted upon the various bridge leaves and platform, means for horizontally guiding the flexible track incidental to its curvature in following movements of the various bridge leaves, and an endless bucket-carrying conveyer supported upon the track.

10. A loading apparatus comprising a j platform, upper and lower connected bridge leaf members pivoted thereto, upper and lower lconnected end bridge leaf members pivoted to the rst mentioned bridge leaf members, rigid tracks carried by the end leaf members, flexible looped track sections supported .upon the other leaf members and platform constituting continuations of the rigid track members, means for swinging the connected leaf members selectively orin. series, and an endless bucket-carrying conveyer supported upon the platform and end leaf bridge members, the stretches of the conveyer being supported by the flexible and rigid track sections.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Milwaukee in the county of Milwaukee and' State 'of Wisconsin-inthe presence of two witnesses.` 4o

CHARLES BERGHOEFER. Witnesses:

Mrs. W. KALITZKY, J. M. ETrENHEIM. 

